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thalamus
Function:
- processes & filters sensory information en route to the cortex
- projections to the cerebral cortex (neocortex) are excitatory glutamatergic neurons that innervate:
a) pyramidal cells of layers 3, 5 & 6
b) spiny neurons of layer 4
c) large basket cells of layers 3 & 5
d) neurogliaform cells of layer 4
- gates conscious perception via thalamofrontal loop [3]
Pharmacology:
- psychedelics may interfere with the filtering operations of the thalamus with more sensory information reaching the cortex [2]
Related
thalamic infarction
General
brain structure
References
- Clarke, D., UCLA Dept of Neurobehavior
- Drew L
Your brain on psychedelics.
Nature. 2022 Sep;609(7929):S92-S94.
PMID: 36171369
- Mallapaty S
How does the brain control consciousness? This deep-brain structure.
In a world of constant stimulation, the thalamus filters which thoughts we become
aware of and which we don't.
Nature News. April 3, 2025.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01021-2
- Fang Z, Dang Y, Ping A et al
Human high-order thalamic nuclei gate conscious perception through the thalamofrontal loop.
Science. 2025 Apr 4;388(6742):eadr3675.
PMID: 40179184
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr3675
Component-of
diencephalon
Components
anterior thalamic nucleus
central lateral nucleus
centromedian nucleus
dorsomedial thalamic nucleus
geniculate nucleus
lateral dorsal thalamic nucleus
lateral geniculate nucleus
lateral posterior thalamic nucleus
lateral thalamic nucleus
medial geniculate nucleus
midline thalamic nucleus
paracentral nucleus
pulvinar
reticular nucleus
thalamic nucleus
ventral anterior thalamic nucleus
ventral lateral (intermediate) thalamic nucleus
ventral posterior intermediate thalamic nucleus
ventral posterior lateral thalamic nucleus
ventral posterior medial thalamic nucleus
ventral posterior thalamic nucleus
ventral thalamic nucleus
Images
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